instance, which occurred in the person of a physician of this city, who
had an intermittent pulse, the result was as follows: Immediately before
bath: pulse 70, two intermissions; at the expiration of 15 minutes,
during which he was under the influence of a descending galvanic
current: pulse 65, two intermissions; at the end of ten more minutes,
during which he received the faradic current: pulse 65, no
intermissions; ten minutes after leaving the bath: pulse 66, no
intermissions. As a rule then, we may look for an immediate and more or
less transient moderate increase in frequency of the pulse. As for any
permanent increase or reduction of the pulse, there is none as a
physiological effect. Where such an one does take place, it is by the
removal of some morbid influence on the heart, and must be looked upon
as a therapeutic result.

With respect to the temperature, the results were somewhat more uniform.
I have found that where this is either normal or slightly below, the
immediate but transient effect is to raise it from 2 to 6 tenths of a
degree (Fahrenheit)--in most instances 4 tenths. In a very few cases it
remained unchanged, and in one case, where before the bath the
temperature was 100, at the close of the bath it was 99-3/5. Of
permanent modifications of the temperature, the same holds good that I
have said of permanent changes in the pulse. It must not be forgotten
that the temperature of the water is undoubtedly an important factor in
modifying the temperature of the body. In almost all instances where my
observations were made, the temperature of the water was below that of
the body, being 95 deg. or a little less. This, which has a tendency to
lower the bodily temperature, is to some extent counterbalanced by the
suppression of the insensible perspiration, so that modifications of
temperature resulting from electric baths, the water of which is but few
degrees below 98 1/2 deg., may justly be attributed to the influence of
the electric current. The importance of the electric bath as a

PHYSIOLOGICAL STIMULANT AND TONIC

cannot be overrated. I deem it superior in this respect to any other
known agent. This effect manifests itself _immediately_ by a feeling of
exhilaration and unwonted vigor, _remotely_ by an improvement--where
there is a margin for such--in the performance of some or all of the
physiological functions, as well as by a gradual but nevertheless marked
_increase in weigh